Hernia anyone?

[Christopher T. Paul- SOC]

Hey Folks,

 

Just resting up after my double hernia operation, which has taken me out of the loop for the next 6 weeks or so. Luckily I have a few gigs lined up sitting on a dolly to keep the money flowing.

 

I had orthoscopic surgery where they put a plastic mesh screen over each tear in the muscle. Anyone else out there have any experience of steadicam operating after having this surgery?

 

Love to hear any other experiences out there...

 

Chris

[Charles Papert]

Had one about 9 years ago. Orthoscopic wasn't the standard then so they did it the old-school way, unfortunately--longer healing time. I was back up and flying in 6-8 weeks, I think.

[Bryan Fowler]

two actually.

 

The first one was when I was younger, they just cut me open and stitched me up with catgut and bubblegum.

 

the second was 3.5 years ago, using the laproscope, and the super cool space mesh. It was to repair the first one after it failed. I guess the stitches ripped out. mmmm

 

All is well since then, but I'd take it easy for a few months. I felt back to normal in 8 weeks, but I wasn't an operator at the time.

 

I hear the failure rate for the mesh is 1%.

[Kris Torch Wilson]

What a coincidence. I went for a physical recently and was told I had a hernia. I'm putting off the operation for a while. Kid's college tuition is due. Until then I try not to exhale. So far it hasn't worked.

Kris "Torch with aching b****" Wilson

[Dan Coplan]

Do hernias just happen or do they occur due to something specific - like tearing a knee (and I don't mean tear a knee, get a hernia for free)?

 

Several months ago I had a checkup and the doc mentioned something about watching for a hernia and that was the end of that so I'm pretty clueless.

 

Dan Coplan

[Dave Bittner]

Had one about three years ago, the old fashioned "let me show you my scar" kind, on the left side. Took about eight weeks before I put the rig back on, by then I was pretty much back to normal.

 

The scariest thing for me post-op was that my, er, "goodies", shall we say, were completely numb on the left side for about three weeks after the surgery. "Oh, that happens sometimes," the doc said. "You'll probably get all the feeling back." I'm sorry, PROBABLY? PROBABLY?

 

The feeling did come back. Phew.

[maxfischer]

Reviving this old thread. Just got back from the doctor's office, I have a double inguinal hernia, yippee! He said I can keep on exercising, lifting, etc, I just have to lay off the sit-ups and crunches (he advised that Planks were OK). He said I can book the surgery at my convenience, as I'm not in pain and my abdomen doesn't look like a scene from Alien.

 

I've got a couple days of steadicam next week, fortunately much of it is hard-mount. I tried to explain my job to him, and I think he understood. His only suggestion was compression shorts to keep some constant pressure on things. Any other suggestions out there? Max

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

Two things….

 

One, what kind of vest do you use?

 

Two, Plan on a lot more recovery time from what they tell you (no one understands our job).

[Janice Arthur]

Max

 

Tai chi and yoga are my suggestions now and after your procedure.

 

Strength and patience without the stress of other workouts.

 

I, like most, had to figure out the subtle details which of course I only scratched the surface of.

 

Good luck and I also wouldn't tell lots of your local folks about this since they'll think you're out of commission for MUCH longer than you will be. (Your phone calls will cease for much longer than you want.)

 

Janice

[RonBaldwin]

Tell your doc that you basically work on a construction site, carrying heavy stuff, climbing ladders, on your feet all day, long hours etc... Helped get my doc in at least the same ballpark and he added an extra week of recovery

[maxfischer]

Alec, I have a PRO vest, was wondering if different vests would be better/worse... I remember my old Klassen vest putting a lot of pressure on my abdomen. These are inguinal (groin), so not sure if any vest affects that area and the muscles that keep it all together.

 

Janice, my wife is a yoga instructor, and she's been telling me to lay off the weights for years. Unfortunately, its what I enjoy, and what motivates me to stay healthy (FYI I'm by no means a meathead, at 6' and 175lbs).

 

Ron, that's good advice! After getting snipped last year, my urologist told me to go back to my normal life after 5 days. Yeah, maybe if normal life is sitting at a desk! Unfortunately my eagerness to get active again lead to a LONG recovery in the family jewel department!

[James Davis]

I had an inguinal hernia when I was much younger, way before I did Steadicam, it's nothing to do with heavy weight training, all sorts of things can cause it, often continual repeated strain on the area, sometimes it can be something as pathetic as a cough in an awkward position.

 

For me I think it was years of kicking heavy bags in martial arts, although my Dad and brother have both had one in the exact same spot at totally different times in their lives, so maybe it's a genetic weakness.

 

The mesh repair technique was what we all had and none of us have had issues since, I would expect to need 3-4 weeks off minimum, it is sore as hell the first week or two and then seems to get progressively more comfortable as the days go on.

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

Max,

 

I asked about vests out of intelectual curiosity. I used a front mounted one for yeas (model 1) and never had a problem and when it split in two (no joke), I bought a Klassen and played for almost two years and (despite the amazing craftsmanship and customer service) found myself having bad posture and serious abdominal strain. Then I found I had a rip in my lower abdomen. I'm not saying they are related - as it turns out, my father had the same issues (as do many men) so who knows. Had mesh installed the old fashion way and my Doctor told me I'd be up & running in a couple of weeks. I took four and went back to work; had my ass handed to me on a simple two day job. Made it through and then took another month off. Found the Klassen Vest sat on my scars and placed tremendous pressure on them. Happened to try a nicely fitted PRO vest and promptly ordered one. Eventually sold the Klassen when I saw a post from someone my exact size looking for one and realized I had not worn it in two years.

 

Not saying the back mounted vest caused the problem but I have wondered. Fact is though, sooooo many men go through this procedure that it is hard to point a finger. Just get plenty of rest before you go back to work.

[Sandro Galv]

what is the best vest for operators with hernia?

Back mount?

Pro Vest?

Tiffen vest?

Exovest?

[Janice Arthur]

Sandro;

 

1) no one can conclusively say which vest is best or which has conclusive evidence for one vest or against another.

2) anecdotal evidence is just that, maybe some piece of this info rings true with you and how you operate.

3) I've seen so many variables with how operators work and deal with the day to day stresses to their bodies that I can't describe.

I've seen so many "stresses" on what I see as energy wasting movements that I would never even consider that my head shakes at them; that said these ops do the work and make the productions happy so who am I to judge?

4) I don't know the answer and with the brilliance of the Internet, if you're astute , you'll analyze them and make choices with an ever increasing sharp eye. I know I see body stresses in a millisecond in ways I never saw in my youth.

 

Janice